The Founder's Odyssey

One carpenter who did become a CEO is Paul Eldrenkamp, the subject of this month's cover story. (See "Taming the Beast," [Article link].) Like every first-time entrepreneur, Eldrenkamp found himself on a journey of discovery. From an artisan whose identity was tied up in his craftsmanship, he had to grow into a chief executive whose identity comes from building a company. Reading David Whitford's account of this odyssey, I couldn't help thinking about all the other entrepreneurs who have taken the same journey. Those shared experiences lie at the heart of the Inc. community. Eldrenkamp's story is a powerful reminder of the bond that ties together all people who create businesses.